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Title: Influence of dual nitrogen and phosphorus additions on nutrient uptake and saturation kinetics in a forested headwater stream

Journal Article · · Freshwater Science
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/700700· OSTI ID:1484147
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States); Heidelberg Univ., Tiffin, OH (United States)
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Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) can limit autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism in lotic ecosystems, yet most studies that evaluate biotic responses to colimitation focus on patch-scale (e.g., nutrient diffusing substrata) rather than stream-scale responses. In this study, we evaluated the effects of single and dual N and P additions on ambient nutrient uptake rates and saturation kinetics during two biologically contrasting seasons (spring, autumn) in Walker Branch, a temperate forested headwater stream in Tennessee, USA. In each season, we used separate instantaneous pulse additions to quantify nutrient uptake rates and saturation kinetics of N (nitrate) and P (phosphate). We then used steady-state injections to elevate background stream water concentrations (to low and then high background concentrations) of one nutrient (e.g., N) and released instantaneous pulses of the other nutrient (e.g., P). We predicted that elevating the background concentration of one nutrient would result in a lower ambient uptake length and a higher maximum areal uptake rate of the other nutrient in this colimited stream. Our prediction held true in spring, as maximum areal uptake rate of N increased with elevated P concentrations from 185 µg m–2 min–1 (no added P) to 354 µg m–2 min–1 (high P). This pattern was not observed in autumn, as uptake rates of N were not measurable when P was elevated. Further, elevating background N concentration in either season did not significantly increase P uptake rates, likely because adsorption rather than biotic uptake dominated P dynamics. Laboratory P sorption assays demonstrated that Walker Branch sediments had a high adsorption capacity and were likely a sink for P during most pulse nutrient additions. Furthermore, it may be difficult to use coupled pulse nutrient additions to evaluate biotic uptake of N and P in streams with strong P adsorption potential. Future efforts should use dual nutrient addition techniques to investigate reach-scale coupled biogeochemical cycles (C–N–P, and other elemental cycles [e.g., Fe, Mo]) across seasons, biomes, and land-use types and over longer time periods.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1484147
Journal Information:
Freshwater Science, Vol. 37, Issue 4; ISSN 2161-9549
Publisher:
University of Chicago PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 10 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (16)

Physiological Responses of Populus trichocarpa to Warming dataset January 2020
Eddy Flux and Meteorology over Deciduous Forest, Prairie, and Soybean Ecosystems in Missouri, USA, during the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017 dataset January 2019
Walker Branch Watershed: Effect of Dual Nitrogen and Phosphorus Additions on Nutrient Uptake and Saturation Kinetics, 2011-2012 dataset January 2018
A ten year record of nitrate retention and solute trends in a Wisconsin sand plains stream: temporal variation at multiple scales journal December 2019
MOFLUX Intensified Soil Moisture Extremes Decrease Soil Organic Carbon Decomposition: Modeling Archive. dataset January 2021
Vegetation Inventory of Oak-Hickory Forest at Missouri Ozark (MOFLUX) Site: 2004-2017 dataset January 2019
Biological Mechanisms May Contribute to Soil Carbon Saturation Patterns: Modeling Archive dataset January 2021
Fine Sediment Removal Influences Biogeochemical Processes in a Gravel-bottomed Stream journal July 2019
Litter Production of Oak-Hickory Forest at Missouri Ozark (MOFLUX) Site: 2003-2015 dataset January 2020
PiTS-1: Carbon Partitioning in Loblolly Pine after 13C Labeling and Shade Treatments dataset January 2013
Walker Branch Watershed: Hourly, Daily, and Annual Precipitation dataset January 2016
Walker Branch Watershed: 15-minute and Daily Stream Discharge and Annual Runoff dataset January 2016
Walker Branch Watershed: Daily Climate and Soil Temperature Data dataset January 2016
Walker Branch Watershed: Weekly Stream Water Chemistry dataset January 2016
Leafweb: Dataset in Support of Coupled Modeling of Photophysics, Photochemistry, and Biochemistry of Photosynthesis, December 2022 Release dataset January 2022
Leaf-area index of Oak-Hickory Forest at Missouri Ozark (MOFLUX) site: 2007–2022 dataset January 2022

Figures / Tables (8)

Table 1(p. 3)table Table 1
Figure 1(p. 7)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 8)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 9)figure Figure 3
Figure 4(p. 10)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 11)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 12)figure Figure 6
Figure 7(p. 12)figure Figure 7

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
nitrate
phosphate
uptake length
maximum areal uptake rate
Tracer Additions for Spiraling Curve Characterization
steady-state addition
adsorption
coupled biogeochemical cycles